Nipper structure for spike drivers and the like

ABSTRACT

A nipper assembly for use with a spike-driving machine for driving spikes into the ties of railroad track. The assembly is constructed to be applied to existing machines or with new equipment. The nipper assembly can be used with various sizes and lengths of ties and insures movement of the nipper assembly at right angles to the tie, regardless of the size and length of the ties.

United States Patent inventor Gunars Eidemanis Milwaukee, Wis.

Appl. No. 814,674

Filed Apr. 9, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Nordberg ManufacturingCompany Milwaukee, Wis.

NIPPER STRUCTURE FOR SPIKE DRIVERS AND THE LIKE 3 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

US. Cl... 104/17 Int. Cl E0lb 29/26 Field of Search 104/15, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 936,679 10/1909 Spanjau104/17 2,596,823 5/1952 Richardson 104/17 3,426,698 2/1969 Foxx et a1.104/17 Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A.Bertsch Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey ABSTRACT: A nipper assembly foruse with a spike-driving machine for driving spikes into the ties ofrailroad track. The assembly is constructed to be applied to existingmachines or with new equipment. The nipper assembly can be used withvarious sizes and lengths of ties and insures movement of the nipperassembly at right angles to the tie, regardless of the size and lengthof the ties.

NIPPER STRUCTURE FOR SPIKE DRIVERS AND THE LIKE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is in the field of machines for driving spikes intorailroad ties and is concerned with an improved nipper assembly which isconstructed to grasp the tie and hold it and the spike driver in placewhile a spike is being driven.

A primary object of the invention is a nipper assembly constructed to beadjusted on a spike driver to accommodate different sizes and lengths ofties.

Another object is an adjustment mechanism for a nipper assembly whichinsures that the nipper assembly itself will always be moved at rightangles to the ties.

Another object is a nipper arrangement which pulls the tie, regardlessof its size and length, up firmly against the tie plate and rail when aspike is being driven.

Another object is a nipper assembly of the above type which can bequickly and easily adjusted when the spike driver is used on track withdifierent size ties from the last operation.

Another object is a nipper assembly constructed for movement in agenerally vertical direction which insures a minimum of side loads andtherefore a minimum of wear.

Another object is a hydraulically operated nipper assembly which isconstructed to prevent side loads and excessive wear on the hydrauliccylinders thereby insuring long life.

Another object is a nipper assembly which does notinterfere with or slowdown other operating parts of the spike driver.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specificationand drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an end elevation of thenipper assembly mounted on a spike driver;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side view, like FIG. 2, in a different position ofoperation; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a portion of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This nipper assembly is shown inthe drawings in connection with a conventional spike driver, such asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,698, issued Feb. ll, I969, and assigned tothis assignee. The spike-driving mechanism and the details of the spikedriver itself will not be shown or described here except where necessaryto relate the nipper assembly to the basic machine. 3

In FIG. 2 a wheeled vehicle has been indicated generally at which has asuitably arranged frame 12 with wheels 14 constructed in a conventionalmanner to ride on the rails 16 of a railroad track, The track has theusual ties 18, be they of wood or otherwise, supporting the rails on tieplates 20 and held in place by the usual spikes 22.

The frame 12 includes uprights 24 supporting an upper structure or crossframe 26 with laterally disposed channels 28, in FIG. I, so that acarriage 30 may be positioned laterally, for example, by a hydrauliccylinder 32. The carriage carries one or more driving guns or spikingdevices 34 on a subcarriage, not shown, movable longitudinally to givethe driving guns 34 two-axis movement for alignment with the spikes, oneinside the tie and the other outside, to be driven through each tieplate. The details of the frame, spiking mechanism, and positioningstructure are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,698, and additional detailswill not be included here.

When the guns drive the spikes through the tie plate under the tie, itis conventional to provide a nipping arrangement which reaches under thetie and pulls up while the spike is being driven down so that the rail,tie plate and tie will all be firmly held together while the spike isbeing driven. This will also prevent the spiking machine from beinglifted up off of the rails.

spike driving vehicle, and it should be understood that an identical orsimilar assembly may be positioned on the other side of the frame sothat both ends of the tie are pulled up firmly and snugly at the sametime.

The upper frame 26 of the spike driver has two ears or lugs 38projecting laterally therefrom with the nipper assembly 36 suspended orpositioned between them, as shown in FIG. 3.'A top plate 40 lies on topof the lugs and is connected thereto by suitable bolts 42. Each of thelugs 38 has a plurality of boltholes 44 so that the top plate 40 may bepositioned in one of a number of lateral positions, shown in this caseas 3, although it might be otherwise. Depending from the top plate arechannels 46 which open inwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, to serve as guidesfor a vertically movable nipper arrangement 48. Each channel is formedby an angle 50, as shown in FIG-4,

with a removable plate 52 connected thereto by a suitable number ofscrews 54 to form an inwardly opening channel. The channels arecrossconnected across the back by a suita ble number of straps 56, shownin this case as four, to provide a rigid rectangular framework. Theupper ends of the channels 46 as well as the top strap 56 are connectedto the top piece 40 in any suitable manner, such as by welding orotherwise.

A hydraulic cylinder 58 may be mounted on top of the crosspiece 40 withits piston rod 60 connected to a universal joint 62. A stub shaft 64interconnects a block 66 to the universal joint and is in turn connectedto a sliding plate 68 which extends outwardly into the channels 46 so asto be raised and lowered therein by the cylinder 58. The center of thesliding plate 68 is provided with a cutout 70 in which is positioned acylinder 72 pivoted at its upper end as at 74 with its piston rodextending therebelow and being connected to a sliding block 76 which ismounted to slide up and down in the cutout.

The sliding plate 68 narrows at each side at the bottom, asat 78, todefine a depending lower portion 80 having a bottom abutting surface 82.Ears projectoutwardly on each side, as at 84, to form pivots 86 fortongs 87 whichextend down to hook portions or claws 88 and rise above toconnect to links 90 which in turn are pivoted to the block 76. Thespacing is such that when the entire mechanism is lowered and theabutting surface 82 hits the top of the tie, the hooks or claws 88 atthe ends of the tongs will fit under the bottom of the tie, as shown inFIG. 3.

When the device is not use, for example during traveling, the slidingplate 68 with the tongs and their actuating mechanism can be raised tothe upper position, shown FIG. 3, where a key or lock 92 will hold it upso that pressure can be taken off of the cylinder 58. The key is in theform of a rod 94, in FIG, I, which extends through a hole 96 in theupper part of the sliding plate. One end of the rod is provided with ahalf moon or are 98 and a lever 100. The top plate 40 has a dependingsideplate 102 which carries an angle 104. When the sliding plate 68 israised to the top so that the hole 106 in the sideplate 102 is alignedwith the hole 96 in the top of the sliding plate, the rod 94 may beinserted through the aligned holes by turning the handle up so that thecutout portion of the are 98 passes by the angle I04. When fullyinserted, the han dle 100 may be rotated to the down position of FIG. 2which puts the are 98, behind the channel 104. This will prevent the keyfrom falling out and the nipper assembly will be held in the raisedposition of FIG. 2. Releasing the nipper assembly merely requires thereverse. While the mechanism is in operation, the key may be inserted ina second hole 108 in the side plate 102 which is aligned with a cutoutI10 in the top of the sliding plate 68 so that the nipper assembly maybe raised and lowered without contacting the key. In either the lockedor unlocked positions, the are 98 of the key will be behind the channel104 so that the key won't fall out.

An adjustable bracing arrangement is provided which includes aturnbuckle 110 or the like pivoted at 112 to the frame and at 114 towardthe bottom of the nipper arrangement, with bolts and nuts so that in anyadjusted position the bracing may be tightened to fonn a rigidstructure. The turnbuckle brace may be positioned at one end of thenipper assembly with a slotted brace 116 at the other which is connectedto the nipper assembly by a bolt and nut type connection 118. A bracketI20 on the frame has an adjustable bolt I22 fitted in the slot with acutout 124 in the frame of the spike driver so that in the innermostposition of adjustment, the brace 116 may project through.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

A nipper assembly is provided which can be used to convert existingspike drivers in the field or it can be provided on new equipment. Theassembly is preferably hung or mounted outboard of the spike driver sothat the nippers grab the ends of the ties, but they might be mountedbetween the rails.

One of the main advantages of the arrangement shown is that it can bepositioned in one of a number of adjusted positions. Three have beenshown, but it might be more or less. Depending upon the size and lengthof ties in the section of track that the machine is to work on, thenipper assemblies can be moved either in or out with the top plate 40adjusted to match the particular length of tie involved. In FIG. 1,three different tie lengths have been shown at 126 which correspond withthe three positions of adjustment indicated by the various bolt holes 44on the supporting brackets 38. In any particular position that the upperpart is secured in, the adjusting arrangement 1 l and 1 16 for the lowerportion may be released, adjusted and reclamped so that the lowerportions of the vertical guides are at right angles or perpendicular tothe ties. This is important to prevent side stresses on the guidemechanism when the nippers grab the ties and provide an upward thrust.No bending stresses or flexing will be applied to the channels orguides.

In operation, the upper cylinder 58 lowers the entire sliding mechanismwhile the intermediate cylinder 72 has the tongs spread, such as shownin FIG. 2. When the abutting surface 82 hits the top of a tie, cylinder72 retracts the block 76 which closes the tongs 87 until the claws 88clamp in under the bottom of the tie, as shown in FIG. 3. An upthrust sthen provided by the upper cylinder 58 with the lower cylinder 72 merelyproviding sufficient upthrust to keep the claws 88 in under the tie butwithout exerting any upthrust itself. This pulls the tie and tie platesup firmly against the bottom of the rail and the spikes may be driven.Then the upper cylinder 58 releases the upthrust which allows theintermediate cylinder 72 to below the block 76 thereby opening thetongs. The upper cylinder 58 then raises the entire mechanism to theFIG. 2 position and the spike driver can be moved to the next tie.

While the preferred form has been shown and described and severalmodifications have been suggested, it should be understood that suitableadditional modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations may bemade without departing from the inventions fundamental theme.

I claim:

1. In a tie nipper assembly for railroad spike drivers and the like, awheeled vehicle with a frame movable along the rails of a track, anipper assembly on the frame constructed to be moved vertically betweena retracted upper position and an extended lower position where itgrasps a tie, a guide assembly defining a generally vertical path ofmovement for the nipper assembly, and an adjustment mechanism betweenthe guide assembly and the frame and mounting the guide assembly on theframe and constructed to effect adjustment of the position of the guideassembly, as a unit, laterally on the frame so that the nipper assemblymay be disposed in all positions for movement generally at right anglesto the ties, the adjustment mechanism including upper and lowermountings for the nipper assembly constructed to effect lateraladjustment thereof so tat the entire nipper assembly can be movedlaterally, either in or out, on the frame to adjust for different sizesof ties, the guide assembly including a pair of oppositely disposedchannels spaced longitudinally from each other and definin a generallyvertic al ath of movement for the ni per assemb y, a hydraulic cyhn ermounted on the frame 0 the vehicle above the nipper assembly andconnected thereto so as to raise and lower the nipper assembly betweenits upper and lower positions on the oppositely disposed channels, and auniversal joint between the upper cylinder and the nipper assembly toaccommodate misalignment in the movement of the nipper assembly relativeto the direction of movement of the cylinder due to minor manufacturinginaccuracies.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the nipperassembly includes a pair of tongs spaced from each other longitudinallyand mounted on pivots intermediate their ends so that the lower ends ofthe tongs can be forced into the ballast in the crib between the ties, alinkage connected to the upper ends of the tongs, and a hydrauliccylinder connected to the linkage and carried by the nipper assembly sothat actuation thereof will separate or close the lower ends of thetongs in under a tie.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottomadjustment includes forward and rear adjustable braces to stabilize thenipper assembly in any position of adjustment.

1. In A tie nipper assembly for railroad spike drivers and the like, awheeled vehicle with a frame movable along the rails of a track, anipper assembly on the frame constructed to be moved vertically betweena retracted upper position and an extended lower position where itgrasps a tie, a guide assembly defining a generally vertical path ofmovement for the nipper assembly, and an adjustment mechanism betweenthe guide assembly and the frame and mounting the guide assembly on theframe and constructed to effect adjustment of the position of the guideassembly, as a unit, laterally on the frame so that the nipper assemblymay be disposed in all positions for movement generally at right anglesto the ties, the adjustment mechanism including upper and lowermountings for the nipper assembly constructed to effect lateraladjustment thereof so tat the entire nipper assembly can be movedlaterally, either in or out, on the frame to adjust for different sizesof ties, the guide assembly including a pair of oppositely disposedchannels spaced longitudinally from each other and defining a generallyvertical path of movement for the nipper assembly, a hydraulic cylindermounted on the frame of the vehicle above the nipper assembly andconnected thereto so as to raise and lower the nipper assembly betweenits upper and lower positions on the oppositely disposed channels, and auniversal joint between the upper cylinder and the nipper assembly toaccommodate misalignment in the movement of the nipper assembly relativeto the direction of movement of the cylinder due to minor manufacturinginaccuracies.
 2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in thatthe nipper assembly includes a pair of tongs spaced from each otherlongitudinally and mounted on pivots intermediate their ends so that thelower ends of the tongs can be forced into the ballast in the cribbetween the ties, a linkage connected to the upper ends of the tongs,and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the linkage and carried by thenipper assembly so that actuation thereof will separate or close thelower ends of the tongs in under a tie.
 3. The structure of claim 1further characterized in that the bottom adjustment includes forward andrear adjustable braces to stabilize the nipper assembly in any positionof adjustment.